Evaluate dental AI software with a standardized scorecard. Score each vendor on six criteria: (1) FDA clearance for the specific indications you need, (2) published clinical validation, (3) native integration with your practice management system, (4) adoption and utilization support, (5) HIPAA security and a signed BAA, and (6) measurable ROI.
This framework separates marketing language from clinical and operational reality, so you can be confident in your decision.
TL;DR: the 6 criteria
FDA clearance is indication-specific. Confirm the cleared indication and the K-number.
Ask for published, peer-reviewed validation, not just internal accuracy claims.
Native PMS integration drives daily adoption. Confirm Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental.
A tool delivers ROI only when providers use it. Ask how the vendor tracks daily utilization.
Require a signed Business Associate Agreement and confirmation that patient data does not train models.
Tie the decision to a number: case acceptance lift, production per visit, or denial reduction.
Criterion 1: Is it FDA-cleared, and for which indication?
FDA clearance is granted for a specific indication. A tool cleared for one use is not automatically cleared for another, so confirm the exact cleared indication and verify the K-number on fda.gov. Overjet is FDA-cleared for caries detection and bone level measurement, and it is the only company with clearance for both.
Require clearance for the specific indications you plan to use.
Criterion 2: Is the accuracy clinically validated and published?
Peer-reviewed evidence carries more weight than a vendor's internal accuracy numbers. Ask for the actual study, the sample size, and where it was published. A growing body of peer-reviewed research now evaluates dental imaging AI, so a vendor with a validated product can point you to published results. If a vendor cannot, treat its accuracy claims as unverified.
Criterion 3: Does it integrate natively with your PMS?
A tool that runs in a separate window next to your chart gets ignored. Confirm native integration with every practice management system your group runs, including Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental. The risk is highest for multi-location groups with mixed environments, where one location on an unsupported system quietly drops off adoption.
Criterion 4: Will providers actually use it?
An AI your providers ignore produces no ROI, no matter how accurate it is. Ask how the vendor measures daily utilization across your locations and what it does when adoption drops at a given office. A serious partner tracks usage and intervenes. A vendor that hands you a login and disappears isn't interested in your long-term success.
Criterion 5: Is it secure and compliant?
Security and compliance are non-negotiable, so get them in writing. Require a signed Business Associate Agreement, end-to-end encryption, and de-identified imagery. Confirm in the contract that your patient data will not be used to train the vendor's models. If a vendor hesitates on any of these, cross it off your list.
Criterion 6: Can you measure the ROI?
Tie the decision to a number you can measure. Focus on three: case acceptance lift, production per visit, and denial reduction. Size it as locations x acceptance lift x average case value. "I have seen my case acceptance skyrocket since using Overjet," says Dr. Okoro at DOA Steeplechase. On the revenue side, Lisa Khandakji, Office Manager at DANV Potomac, resubmitted denials with Overjet radiographs over a two-week period and had 90% of them overturned. Ask every vendor which number they will move, and by how much.
The 6-criteria scorecard
Criterion | What to confirm |
|---|---|
1. FDA clearance | The specific cleared indication and the K-number on fda.gov |
2. Clinical validation | A published, peer-reviewed study and its sample size |
3. PMS integration | Native support for Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental |
4. Adoption support | How the vendor tracks and supports daily utilization |
5. Security and compliance | Signed BAA, encryption, no model training on patient data |
6. Measurable ROI | The specific number the vendor commits to moving |
Dental AI evaluation FAQ
What should I look for when choosing dental AI software?
The six criteria above, led by FDA clearance for the specific indication you need. Score every vendor on the same scorecard so you are comparing evidence, not marketing.
What does FDA-cleared mean for dental AI?
It means the FDA reviewed the software for a specific indication and found it substantially equivalent to a legally marketed device. Confirm the exact cleared indication and the K-number.
Does dental AI integrate with Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental?
Integration varies by vendor. Confirm native support for every system your practice or group runs before you sign.
Score your shortlist against a real platform
The fastest way to test this framework is to run it against a platform that meets all six criteria. Book a demo to see how Overjet Vision AI performs on FDA clearance, published validation, native integration, adoption support, and measurable ROI.
